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See page 26. 



MEMOIR 



LUCY MARIA BIGELOW, 

WHO DIED IN 

ROCHESTER, MASS. 

October 23, 1832, 
Aged nearly Six Years. 



" To Him let little children come, 
For He hath said ' they may,' 
His bosom then shall be their home, 
Their tears he'll wipe away." 



WRITTEN FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS SABBATH SCHOOL 

i 

SOCIETY, AND REVISED BY THE COMMITTEE 
OF PUBLICATION. 



BOSTON: 

MASSACHUSETTS SABBATH SCHOOL SOCIETS\ 
Depository, No. 24, Cornhill. 

1833. 



3 K tv* 



Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1833, 

By Christopher C. Dean, 
in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. 



^V./"- 



PREFACE. 



The design in publishing this short history of a 
beloved child, is not to exhibit any thing remark- 
able in intellectual strength or mental endowments, 
but it is offered to parents, as a simple illustration 
of the practical influence of gospel truth, sanctified 
by the Spirit of truth, on the character of a little 
child. 

Uninterested friends have advised that much 
more should be said, as with truth might be, of the 
subject of this memoir. The design however was, 
to notice only those traits, which may be made of 
'practical use to little children, and not to swell the 
volume with facts, which demand admiration merely. 
The writer therefore only asks the co-operation of 
parents, in persuading their beloved offspring, to 
whom it is dedicated, to follow Lucy, as far as she 
followed Christ. 

Perhaps, they may notice that the habit of self- 
1* 



VI PREFACE. 

denial which was early formed, laid a broad founda- 
tion, for all those graces which shot forth in rich 
luxuriance, and gave an unusual symmetry and per- 
fection to her character. 

Should this slight effort be made useful to any of 
Lucy's friends as an encouragement to seek the 
same Saviour, to him be all the glory. 



i 



MEMOIR 



OP 



LUCY MARIA BIGELOW. 



My Dear Children : 

When reading the story of Mary Lothrop, 
or Nathan W. Dickerman, did you ever wish 
that you "could be like them," — that you 
could enjoy the smiles of Jesus while you 
live, and be happy when you lie on a bed of 
suffering and death ? and happy forever in the 
love and presence of God ? Did you ever 
wish that you could at last stand with them 
before the throne, and join their infant songs 
to him who "washed them and made them 
white?" Or, when sitting by the side of 
your father or mother, and hearing them relate 
the story of Joseph, and David, and Josiah 3 



8 MEMOIR OF 

and Daniel, have you not wished that you 
" could resemble them," or when they have 
told you about heaven, that blessed home in 
which they now dwell — and of its streets of 
gold, and its robes of white, and its crowns 
of glory, and of all the good people who live 
together there, in such perfect kindness and 
affection ; have you not then wished that you 
could " live as they lived — die as they died— 
and go up in the arms of angels to live with 
them in that bright world, where the glory of 
God outshines the sun ? " Yes, I know you 
wish with all your heart, sometimes, that you 
were walking in that narrow, peaceful path 
which leads through this world of sin, up to 
the gate of heaven. 

I have often talked with little children who 
felt just as you do — and I have seen the tear 
glisten in their eye and heard them say, " / 
wish I was good" And I will tell you the 
reason why they are not just what they wish 
to be. When they are tempted to sin, they 
do not go instantly to God to ask his help, 
and therefore they turn back and forget their 



LUCY MARIA BIGELOW. 9 

good resolutions, and forget God — they then 
feel discouraged and give up the effort. 

To help you, my dear children, to live like 
those I have mentioned, I will relate a short 
story of a little girl, that I may persuade 
you by her example to seek him who is very 
near you, while it is easy for you to find him. 
I will tell you how she sought the Lord Jesus 
when a very little child. 

Lucy Maria Bigelow did not live to be 
quite six years old. She usually enjoyed 
good health, except that at times she was af- 
flicted with severe headache, which we be- 
lieve began at a very early age, when she 
was too young to tell us what was the matter. 
She would then appear fretful and unhappy. 
As her parents wished to cultivate in her, 
kind and gentle feelings, they tried to correct 
what they thought unamiable, and as soon as 
she could speak, taught her to repeat this 
beautiful verse, which her mother printed on 
paper and pasted over the fireplace, 

" The gentle child who tries to please, 
That hates to quarrel, fret, and tease, 



10 MEMOIR OF 

Who will not speak one angry word, 
That child is pleasing to the Lord." 

And when this little girl began to feel unhappy, 
she would instantly repeat it, and a sweet 
smile would play on her face before she 
finished it, and thus while so young, she be- 
gan to form that mild and placid temper which 
made every one love her. As she grew 
older, this kind, affectionate temper so entirely 
prevailed, that her friends can scarcely re- 
member a look or word of ill humor. Do you 
wish that you had a temper so lovely ? make 
it so, my little friend, by putting away every 
unkind feeling, and whenever you want help, 
look upward, and ask it of him " who gives 
liberally " all the aid a little child wants, and 
in this way you will become " That child who 
is pleasing to the Lord." 

When Lucy was two years old, she was 
taken every morning into her chamber, to 
thank her heavenly Father for his kind care 
through all the hours of darkness, and to ask 
his love, and help, and protection through the 
day, and she was directed to go to him as 



LUCY MARIA BIGELOW. 1] 

to the kindest parent, and tell him every 
thought and desire of her little heart in her 
own words, and at night when retiring to rest, 
she was told to think what had been, wrong in 
her conduct, and confess it all to God — to 
him who hears the little " ravens when they 
cry." This habit of prayer became very de- 
lightful to Lucy. Happy moments, when 
this little child began to " acquaint herself 
with God." 

From this time until the close of life, she 
was never known to pass a day without spend- 
ing a little while with God. And when the 
hour came that Lucy must go away from her 
beloved parents and all her friends, she was 
not afraid, because she was going to a dearer, 
better friend, to whom she had been accus- 
tomed to speak every day of her life. Are 
you acquainted with the Lord Jesus, dear 
children ? and does he every day listen to the 
words of love and penitence which you softly 
pour into his ear ? Continue thus to do, and 
when you die, you will not meet him as a 
stranger from whose face you would flee, but 



12 MEMOIR OF 

as a kind, forgiving Father, whom you know 
and love. 

But it did not satisfy Lucy to pray herself — 
she could not then go to sleep until her father 
or mother had commended her to the safe 
care of " Him who never sleeps ; " and when 
occasionally deprived of this privilege by 
their absence, she has been found at a late 
hour weeping, and unable to go to sleep, be- 
cause no one had prayed for her. Are you 
blessed with pious parents, dear children ? 
then you know how sweet it is to lie down 
at night, having been committed by them to 
the care of the good shepherd ! And those 
dear children who are not thus favored, and 
at night must close their eyes with no petition 
lifted to God for them, let them remember 
that the softest prayer from their infant lips is 
heard, if offered in sincerity. " The Lord is 
thy keeper," therefore do not fear to commit 
all your concerns into his safe hand — none 
so well knows your sorrows and sins as he. 

At two years old, Lucy was taken to the 
house of God, and no one who ever saw her 



LUCY MARIA BIGELOW. 13 

there, could doubt that she felt it was a holy 
place, and that she was in the presence of a 
holy God. In his sanctuary, she never spoke 
or smiled, or scarcely moved. The frequent 
pain in her head, often disposed her to sleep, 
and to prevent this, her mother sometimes 
offered her a book, but she would quietly lay 
it down again, without opening it. The se- 
riousness of her deportment was very notice- 
able, and she seemed disturbed if she saw 
other children playful or irreverent. 

The Sabbath was a happy day with Lucy. 
She began it right. As she slept in an ad- 
joining room to her parents, they had oppor- 
tunity to know in what manner her first 
thoughts were employed. She usually awoke 
early, and the first thing they heard, was her 
conversation with her little sister. " Now, 
Susan," she would say, " this is the holy Sab- 
bath — let us keep it holy. We must not 
work or play, because it is the Sabbath day," 
and then, after long and instructive conversa- 
tion, she would repeat or sing some little Sab- 
bath morning song, and then pray to her 
2 



14 MEMOIR OF 

Father in heaven. She drew nigh to him 
" who is Lord of the Sabbath," when she 
first awaked, and he therefore assisted her to 
keep his holy day. 

The last summer, her parents took her to 
visit a friend, at whose house she spent the 
Sabbath. In the morning, a little girl of her 
own age invited her to walk out, around the 
house, but she declined, and chose rather to 
go to her mother's chamber. In the course 
of the day, some books with amusing plates 
were offered her, but she went to her mother 
and said, " I think these are improper for the 
Sabbath.'" She was told they were not suit- 
able, and when her little friend attempted to 
show her the pictures, she would turn aside 
her head as if fearful of doing wrong by look- 
ing at them. 

It was usual for one of Lucy's parents to take, 
the children into a room by themselves for in- 
struction on the Sabbath — but sometimes com- 
pany necessarily prevented. Whenever this 
was the case, she did not fail to go to her moth- 
er, to entreat her to spend the happy hour as 



LUCY MARIA BIGELOW. 15 

usual, in talking about God and singing his 
praise. She loved her Sabbath school, and 
often prayed for her dear teacher, and was 
an example to others by her attention to the 
kind instruction there given. 

It was a source of great pleasure to Lucy 
to instruct her little sister from a book of 
Bible cuts, and with uncommon accuracy she 
would relate every particular of the story con- 
nected with the picture, but it was the history 
of the dear Saviour which she most loved. 
She delighted to talk about him, as he ap- 
peared a little infant in the manger, and as 
a child so pure and lovely, and as a man 
so kind and compassionate, and then to con- 
template him as her Saviour, suffering, bleed- 
ing, dying on the cross. 

At the close of this holy, happy day, Lucy 
and her sisters were accustomed to walk with 
their mother in the garden, where every flower 
and leaf would remind them of the kind Pa- 
rent whose love had fitted up this fallen world, 
and adorned it with so much beauty for sinful 
man ; and here she would gather the choicest 



16 MEMOIR OF 

flowers, and with a countenance glowing with 
happiness, speak of the goodness of God in 
causing them to grow to " please us." 

And now I have told you how Lucy spent 
the Sabbath, and do you not think it was the 
happiest day of the week to her ? Just so it 
may be your happy day, if you will com- 
mence it with thoughts of God, and keep him 
in your thoughts to whom all its sacred hours 
belong, and who has given you the Sabbath 
in the greatest kindness. For what purpose 
are you sent into this world, my children ? 
Is it not to prepare for heaven, that abode of 
light and purity? Think a moment, what 
has God done to help you to arrive safely 
there ? He has given you parents to take 
you by the hand and lead you up thither, and 
he has told your parents how to do this, 
and promised to help them whenever they 
need his assistance. He has laid down rules 
for them to guide their children in the safe 
and narrow way. He has promised too, to 
sead them his own blessed Spirit, if they ask 
for it, and has promised that their children 



LUCY MARIA BIGELOW. 17 

shall " enjoy great peace when they are 
taught of God." 

Knowing that in this dark world of sin, you 
and your parents would soon lose your way, 
he has given you and them the Bible which 
is a lamp to their feet, and makes the way to 
the heavenly city so plain, that a little child 
may find it, without even the help of his pa- 
rents ; but lest you should not attend to this 
word of truth and love, he has sent ministers 
and Sabbath school teachers to explain it, and 
in addition to this, often presents the example 
of young children, to encourage you, who 
have sought him and found him, who loved 
his blessed book, and his holy day — who 
served him while they lived, and finished 
with joy their short and happy course, and 
then 

" Went up the shining way, 
To meet their dearest Lord." 

But more. He has given you with all these 
blessings the Sabbath, that you may lay aside 
your studies, your sports, and have time to 

2* 



18 MEMOIR OF 

think of him, and look away toward heaven 
and seek your Father's face. Fifty-two such 
days every year he gives you. And now 
how will you spend the next Sabbath ? Sup- 
pose you try Lucy's method, and begin when 
you awake, to ask the Holy Spirit to come 
and dwell in your heart all that day — to keep 
you from sin and help you to spend it as " if 
it were the last." Try it, and see how sweetly 
its moments will pass away. 

Perhaps you will now inquire, " did Lucy 
love to think of God on other days ? " I told 
you she slept with a little sister two years 
younger than herself. When she was four 
years it was remarked by the family, that she 
talked a long time after she was in bed, and 
one of them had the curiosity to listen, and 
found her earnestly engaged in talking to her 
little sister about God, about the dear Saviour 
who died for little children, and then she 
would entreat her to love him now, and obey 
his holy commands, and then she told her all 
she knew about heaven, and of that dreadful 
world of sorrow, where the wicked must live 



LUCY MARIA BIGELOW. 19 

forever — and after this, most earnestly would 
she pray to her Father in heaven, for little 
Susan. 

Every night and every morning this was 
long her practice, and many times have her 
parents heard these interesting conversations 
at dawn of day, when she supposed they 
were asleep, but she did not speak of it, or 
seem at all to think she had done any thing 
worthy of notice. I mention this to show you 
that when little children acquaint themselves 
with God, they find him so kind, so tender a 
Parent, that they very much wish all others to 
know him too. 

After breakfast it was her custom to go into 
her chamber to pray to her Father who is in 
secret, and in these moments of retirement 
she drew near to the all-seeing God ; and on 
leaving her closet with a smiling face she 
would go to her mother and say, " This is 
my sweet passage to-day, dear mother," re- 
peating some verse of God's word. It was 
not necessary to urge Lucy to seek the face 
of her heavenly Father. At noonday have I 



20 MEMOIR OF 

seen her softly retiring to her room, to be alone 
with God. This is the way she became ac- 
quainted with that great Being who made her, 
who died for her, and in whose presence she 
now dwells. Go and do as she did, dear 
children. 

During the last summer, Lucy often said, 
" I do certainly think I have a new heart. 
I do certainly think I love the Saviour." 
" Why do you think so ? " her mother asked. 
" Because I have given him my heart, and I 
think he has forgiven my sins." This she 
said with deep feeling, but there were other 
reasons to lead us to hope she was a lamb of 
the good Shepherd's fold. 

First then, I will tell you of her integrity. 
After she was old enough to understand what 
is meant by truth, she never told a lie. When 
she first began to talk, her parents took much 
pains to teach her, that to tell an untruth is 
very displeasing to God, and that no child 
who does it, can even hope to enter those 
holy gates which are shut against the liar ; 
and therefore when they asked her a question, 
they would desire her to think before she an- 



LUCY MARIA BIGELOW. 21 

swered, and when she did wrong, they were 
careful not to speak in haste. They would 
say, " Lucy, I wish to ask you a question. I 
know you will not tell me an untruth, lest you 
should exceedingly displease your heavenly 
Father." She would then take time to re- 
collect just how the matter stood, and relate 
it, without adding or concealing any thing. 
I always feel sorry when I hear any one ask a 
child hastily, " did you do thus and so ? " be- 
cause I dread lest he should deny it. If any 
person should carelessly do this, do not be in 
haste to answer. Take time to think this 
sentence, " I cannot tell a lie." You will 
make many friends by speaking the truth — 
but more, the God of truth will love you. 

Another holy command which Lucy re- 
membered was the eighth. She was careful 
never to take even a plaything which was not 
her own. Nothing was ever put out of her 
reach, for all was safe where she was. Not 
the slightest deviation from this rule can be 
recollected. When she was three years old, 
she one day after dinner took a small piece of 



22 MEMOIR OF 

pie, for which one of her sisters reproved her, 
but it was soon discovered that it was her own 
which she had left on her plate. She was 
then excused from blame, but she did not 
forgive herself, and long after spoke of it as 
being wrong. 

And now, my little friends, will you inquire 
if you are thus careful, and do you consider 
it as great a sin to take the smallest thing, 
such as a bit of cake or sugar, when no one 
but God sees you ? I have known some little 
children who began to pilfer by climbing up to 
the closet shelves to take some nice thing set 
away, or softly go into the cellar to steal a bit 
of cake, and so they went on, until becoming 
so fond of sweet things, they could not do 
without them. Then they ventured into the 
confectionary's shop to steal sugar-plums — 
and would go to their father's pocket-book 
and steal money. But those are not the chil- 
dren to whom I am now speaking. They do 
not form the wish expressed at the beginning 
of this book. Oh, it is dangerous to indulge 
in little sins ! How fast a child may run down 
the road to death ! 



LUCY MARIA BIGELOW. 23 

I once heard a very eminent minister say, 
that " when a child, he was just so wicked, 
and one night as he was softly creeping down 
cellar to get some apples without leave, he 
heard a voice. He stopped to listen. It was 
the voice of his mother in prayer. " My 
mother is speaking to God, and his eye is on 
me," was the thought that pierced his soul. 
He trembled and ran back. From that hour 
he saw that he was a great sinner. He was 
never happy again until he had found pardon 
at the feet of the Saviour. That little boy 
stopped and " pondered the path of his feet," 
and God received the penitent child, and now 
he is a minister of Jesus, and when he arrives 
at heaven, he will meet many hundreds who 
will bless God that the little boy who began 
to be a child of Satan, " thought on his ways, 
and turned his feet unto God's testimonies." 

Lucy was obedient to her parents. They 
cannot recollect that it was ever necessary to 
correct her for disobedience. If desired to 
do things which were not agreeable, she would 
cheerfully obey. 



24 MEMOIR OF 

One instance of this I will relate to show 
you her general conduct. She was very de- 
sirous to sit up a little while with her elder 
sisters in the evening, but for many reasons 
her mother thought it proper she should not^ 
Once or twice, last summer, she came with a 
very winning expression of countenance and 
said, " dear mother, I feel very well indeed 
to-night, could you let me sit up a UttU 
while ? " It was unpleasant to deny her, stilF 
her mother told her decidedly, she must al-. 
ways go at dark, with her Kttle sister, and 
requested her not to ask to sit up again. It 
was never necessary to speak again on the 
subject. However interesting her employ- 
ment, she cheerfully left it at the appointed 
hour, without one look of sorrow. 

The best little children do not know what 
is best for them to do, and therefore with 
pleasure should they be guided by those kind 
parents whom God has given them. And 
now Lucy's mother rejoices that she did not 
thus indulge her little girl ; for when the hour 
of rest arrived, she was not worn out with 



LUCY MARIA BIGELOW. 25 

fatigue, and ready to drop asleep without 
thinking of God ; but with a mind tranquil 
and happy, she would give herself away to the 
care of her Father in heaven, and then say, 
" Now, dear mother, tell me one story about 
the dear Saviour." These were some of the 
last months of her life, but she knew it not, 
and many precious conversations did she enjoy 
with her mother, which had been lost, had she 
yielded to her wish to sit up ; and here you 
see how much children need a guide, because 
their years are few and their wisdom is small. 
If you love to fill the hearts of your parents 
with joy and gratitude, obey with cheerful- 
ness. 

Affecting instances of this kind often oc- 
curred. No persuasion could induce Lucy 
ever to touch a thing forbidden, however 
tempting it might be. 

Your parents sometimes find it necessary 
to require you to abstain from things which 
you very much love. They do it from kind- 
ness to you, and as they are older and wiser 
than you, they certainly know better than you 
3 



26 MEMOIR OF 

do, what will injure you. During the hot 
summer months, Lucy's father desired her to 
eat no fruit unless it were given her at home, 
because he feare4 it might not be ripe and 
would make her sick. Now it was very easy 
for her to comply with this request, because 
she had learned to deny herself. She often 
walked out where apples had fallen from 
the trees, and she could take as many as she 
liked, and no one but God would have seen 
her — but so well did her parents know that ] 
Lucy would not disobey them, that they would 
have been unwilling to grieve her so much as 
to ask if " she had picked up any green fruit 
by the way ? " 

One day she called with her sisters at the 
house of a dear friend, who presented to the 
little girls some fine ripe apples. Lucy looked 
wishfully at them, but immediately looking 
up with her usual smile, said, "Mrs. R., I 
should love to eat one of them, but my father 
told me I must not." No one could persuade 
her to do a thing which she knew would dis- 
please her parents. 



LUCY MARIA BIGELOW. 27 

Dear children, if you wish to please God, 
never make it necessary for your parents to 
desire you more than once to do any thing — 
never let it be necessary for them to watch 
you, lest you should disobey — never oblige 
them to ask, " Have you done as I directed 
you ? " 

But she obeyed, not only because God had 
expressly told her to do it, but because she 
loved her parents dearly. Never did they re- 
turn from a walk without seeing her face at the 
window, watching for them ; or meet her on 
her way to greet them. Her father prepared 
for her a little garden, in w T hich she spent 
many happy hours — and her sweetest flowers 
and choicest fruits were gathered for her pa- 
rents. A short time before she died, she one 
day planted some of her favorite seeds in her 
mother's garden without saying a word to any 
one. In a few weeks they sprang up, and 
with a face glowing with pleasure, she ran to 
tell her mother " of the beautiful flowers she 
would gather," planted by her hand. Little 
did her mother think, that ere they blossomed, 



28 MEMOIR OF 

her own beautiful flower would wither and die. 
To be allowed at any time, to assist her father 
in the garden, or her mother in the house, 
would make her very happy, and this reminds 
me of another thing which enabled her to be 
very useful. 

There was a remarkable love of order and 
neatness to be noticed in every thing. What- 
ever she did, was well done. When only 
three years old, her mother used to desire her 
to put the room in order. Instantly she would 
set about it, quietly and busily, until every 
thing was nicely arranged, as she thought her 
mother would like to see it, and then say, 
" Mother, will you look and see if it is done 
right?" And so well did she know where 
every thing in the house belonged, that it was 
common for all the members of the family to 
call upon her when any article was missing, 
for she was always ready to look for it and 
seldom gave it up until it was found. If she 
saw any one perplexed about a thing lost, she 
did not wait to be asked, but immediately left 
her play, or work, saying, " I can find it for 
you." 



LUCY MARIA BIGELOW. 29 

Does this obliging temper seem lovely to 
you, dear little children ? Cultivate it then 
yourselves. It will cost some self-denial at 
first, for your hearts are inclined to selfishness 
and indolence. Selfishness never enters heav- 
en. Those little companions of yours, who 
are now with Jesus, robed in white, will never 
indulge a selfish feeling. 

Lucy loved play as you do — but she could 
any time cheerfully quit it, to oblige any one. 
I speak of this because I know some children 
who will read this book who often wish " to 
be good." They often think of death, and 
sometimes long to be prepared for heaven, and 
yet they do not once think that it is impossible 
for them to resemble the Saviour, while they 
indulge so many selfish feelings. It is a very 
little sin to be selfish, they think. It is only 
a trifle for them, when at play to say, " Oh I 
must have it first" " give it to me" " 1 will 
look at it, and then you shall." But God con- 
siders it a great sin. He commands you " to 
love your neighbor " or playfellow " as your- 
self." 

3* 



30 MEMOIR OF 

I scarcely know any fault which my little 
friends so much need the assistance of their 
parents to overcome, as this. Suppose you 
should now ask them " to be so good as to 
remind you whenever they perceive the first 
risings of selfishness in your conduct." How 
often have I heard Lucy say, " I fear if I f 
should do that, it would seem selfish ;" or, " is 
it selfish, mother, if I do so and so ? " Of 
all sins in the world, we love this most 5 
therefore try hard to overcome it ; ask God's 
help, and you will. For how is it possi- 
ble to be like him who left the bliss and the 
splendors and songs of heaven, to come hith- 
er to weep — to suffer — to bleed and die, for 
you, while you cherish this sin ? And never 
can you go to be with him, until you are like 
him. 

As Lucy learnt early to deny herself, it was 
easy to be generous to others. If any one 
gave her a piece of cake, or an apple, it was 
equally divided between her sisters and broth- 
er, and this was so fixed a habit, that she 
seemed to feel that she had no right to indulge 
any little luxury alone. 



LUCY MARIA BIGELOW. 31 

Self-denial too, made it easy to be gentle 
and affectionate. When at play, the tones of 
her voice were always kind. No harsh words 
or angry looks escaped her. She was de- 
lighted when she could take her little brother, 
if at any time he was unhappy, and soothe 
him with affectionate words, and in this way 
she greatly assisted her mother. 

But, dear children, lest you should turn over 
this leaf, and forget all that I have said about 
this sin of selfishness, and how easily it besets 
you, let me give you one more good rule. 
Whenever you find selfish feelings rising in 
your bosom, stop one moment and silently 
raise your heart to God, and ask him to help 
you to subdue them. I know some little chil- 
dren who try this method, and find it a very 
good one. 

Lucy loved to walk with her father and 
mother, and she was often indulged this grat- 
ification, because she attentively observed 
every thing she saw. Long before she spoke 
plainly, she learned the names of the various 
stones and flowers she found in her walks, and 



32 MEMOIR OF 

while carefully examining them and admiring 
their beauty, she never failed to speak of the 
goodness of God in creating them. 

This habit of closely looking at every thing 
commenced early. As soon as she could run 
about, she frequently amused herself a long 
time in looking at some little insect, without* 
hurting it. Whan a year and a half old, she 
stood by a chair one day appearing much en-jj 
gaged, but occasionally cried as if hurt, and in 
a moment seem busy again. Her mother soon 
discovered that she was examining a wasp she 
held in her hand, and which had stung her 
several times, but she was unwilling to give it 
up until her curiosity was satisfied. 

At this age she would come to her father 
and ask him to cut her gums, and allow him to 
apply his knife as long as he pleased. As she 
grew older she learned this motto which she 
always used and which the family called 
" Lucy's motto." " Patience and persever- 
ance will overcome all things." — Patience 
enabled her to bear without complaining, those 
severe sufferings which often afflicted her, and 



LUCY MARIA BIGELOW. 33 

perseverance enabled her to go through what 
she undertook— it helped her to " endure to 
the end " of her short life in walking the nar- 
row way — it helped her to persevere in seek- 
ing from day to day the face of her heavenly 
Father — and in striving to subdue sin. Tt is 
a good motto. If you do not find it exactly 
so in your Bible, you will find this, " He that 
endureth to the end, shall be saved." 

During the last summer, Lucy was engaged 
as usual with her garden, her books and her 
work, industrious and happy. She never at- 
tended school, but was instructed at home. 
As she was subject to severe headache, her 
parents had not allowed her to spend much 
time in reading. Her industrious habits ac- 
count for her wishing to be always employed. 
She learned to write quite intelligibly, and 
draw well on the slate. Frequently she would 
bring a letter written to her mother, contain- 
in°- some good resolution such as this, " Dear 
mother, I will try to be good to-day, that God 
may love me." She loved to gather flowers 
and draw them, which she could do quite 



34 MEMOIR OF 

well, and then bring the picture to her moth- 
er, saying, " This is not worth giving away, 
but I know you will accept it, dear mother." 

It was frequently noticed by her friends that 
she appeared distressed if any one praised 
her. Her face would be covered with blushes 
and with most apparent sincerity, she would 
desire them to desist. But well do her parents 
remember the modest, happy expression, 
when she at any time heard them approve her 
conduct — still she could not bear to hear more 
than this, even from them. 

The story of the publican she was well 
acquainted with, and perhaps had tried to 
avoid the sin of the pharisee, which was so 
displeasing to God. In the heart of a humble 
child he loves to dwell. There his Holy 
Spirit loves to dwell. If you have opened 
your heart for him to enter, he makes it his 
dwelling. Did you ever think of this? that 
the high and lofty One will take up his abode 
in the heart of a child ? 

Take care of your thoughts, that they be 
such as you would not desire to hide from 
his eye. ^ 



LUCY MARIA BIGELOW. 35 

A pious friend lately remarked that he 
thought every little child was intrusted at its 
birth, to the care of some kind angel, who 
watches over it, is ever about its path to pro- 
tect it in danger, and is around its bed when 
hushed in sleep. Often, this good angel pre- 
sents to its mind holy thoughts of God, as it 
becomes acquainted with him J and when 
tempted to sin, is ready to assist him in over- 
coming it. If this little child " becomes ac- 
quainted " with God its Father, Jesus its 
Saviour, the Holy Spirit its Sanctifier, and 
chooses the path of peace, this attending angel 
goes onward with it, through all its journey 
of life, and never forsakes the little pilgrim ; 
and when the journey is ended, and all his 
work is done, and all his trials are finished, 
and he is coming away conqueror over every 
sin and the wicked world and Satan, and has 
nothing to do but to " lean his head on the 
bosom of Jesus," and " breathe " his happy 
soul away, the arms of this kind angel are 
open to receive it, and together the beloved 
friends ascend to the gates of heaven- 



36 MEMOIR OF 

If, however, the little child chooses the 
broad way of sin and death, prefers to gratify 
himself rather than obey the will of God, 
turns away his ear against the voice of con- 
science, which always speaks when he does 
wickedly — cares nothing for the love which 
brought the Saviour to earth, and thinks little 
of that eternity to which he is hastening, 
this good angel leaves it, and if sorrow could 
enter the bosom of a heavenly spirit, it must 
be at such a separation. He goes back to 
relate in heaven the sad story, and to be sent 
on some better errand of love. 

The Bible calls these messengers " minis- 
tering spirits to the heirs of salvation." Happy 
spirits, they are ever delighting to do the will 
of God, and pleasant would be their benevo- 
lent employment, were all of you like Nathan 
W. Dickerman, Mary Lothrop, and many 
others. 

The latter part of September, one fine 
afternoon, when Lucy was walking with her 
mother and sister, they passed by the grave- 
yard, and one of the children pointed to a 



LUCY MARIA B1GELOW. 37 

grave near the road. Their mother looked 
at it, and then remarked, " Soon, my chil- 
dren, one of you may lie here, and then I 
shall never pass by your grave without look- 
ing at it, and wondering if your spirit is with 
God." This was the last time they ever 
walked together, but little did her mother 
think that in one month, she would stand by | 

and look upon the grave, and read upon its 
k white stone the dear name of Lucy. 

The first week in October, the " Maternal 
Association" held its quarterly meeting at the 
house of Lucy's parents. Nothing gave her 
more pleasure than the anticipation of these 
meetings. This day she was well, bright and 
happy ; and well do we remember her cheer- 
ful smiles and conversation, as she prepared 
herself to meet her dear companions, and 
committed her passage from the Bible. At 
the appointed hour, the room was rilled with 
children, whose appearance manifested that 
they had assembled on some agreeable, but 
solemn occasion. Mothers too were there, 
for the purpose of once more directing the 
4 



38 MEMOIR OF 

attention of their little ones to the SavioiL 
and once more taking them to him for a 
blessing. Each of the children were then 
called upon to repeat a verse from the word 
of God, and then many questions were asked, 
to know what each one thought of their pas- 
sage and of its meaning, so that the precious 
sentence might be remembered. Many of 
you recollect the soft accent with which Lucy 
uttered these words. " And he took them 
up in his arms, laid his hands upon them, and 
blessed them." A record of affection is this, 
which has filled many a mother's heart with 
gratitude. Stories were then read, which led 
to some remarks on the necessity of being 
ready to die. 

Since the preceding quarterly meeting, one 
of the beloved children of the Maternal Asso- 
ciation had gone to be with Christ. Early 
she chose the " good part," and when called 
in the bloom of life to die, away from her 
beloved parents, and called suddenly, with 
scarcely an hour's notice, she said, "I am 
not afraid." Her Saviour was near to re- 



LUCY MARIA BIGELOW. 39 

ceive her last sigh, and support her fainting 
spirit, as he gently and quickly led her through 
the vale of death. 

This case much affected the children. She 
had been with them at the Sabbath school, 
and they saw her in the house of God take 
her stand on the Lord's side, and now as 
they sat in the bloom and freshness of health, 
the question was proposed to them, " Which of 
them was ready to follow Caroline into eter- 
nity ? " Soon after it was observed that Lucy 
looked pale and languid, but she made no 
complaint. The closing hymn was sung. 

" See Israel's gentle Shepherd stands." 

The children commended to that " care which 
can heal the bleeding heart, if weeping o'er 
their dust." 

Each retired with the deep conviction that 
it is well to get ready to die, but little did any 
suspect that the angel of sickness and death 
had entered that room, had already laid his 
withering hand on the head of one. The 
good Shepherd had been there and selected 



40 MEMOIR OF 

one little " lamb whom he knew," whose 
voice he had often heard when lifted to him. 
He called her from this interesting spot to a 
bed of sickness and death. 

That night, her mother being engaged with 
company, desired her sistQr to take the little 
ones to bed. Her head was then aching se- 
verely, and much as she always desired her 
mother's company when she retired to rest, 
yet without a word of complaint she affection- 
ately bade " good night." 

At midnight, her parents were awoke by 
her sufferings, which she could no longer 
conceal. The next day she was rather bet- 
ter, came down stairs, but continued feeble 
until Sabbath morning, when it became neces- 
sary to send for her physician. He had fre- 
quently seen her as sick before, and thought 
it only the same headache, which medicine 
had often relieved. Nearly a fortnight she 
continued about the same, one day better and 
then worse. 

No one was alarmed except at times, when 
she suffered severely ; yet her parents could 



LUCY MARIA BIGELOW. 41 

not but wonder why she did not recover, if it 
were only a headache, and could not but think 
it was possible God might be leading their 
beloved child down to the grave. When this 
painful thought was first mentioned, her father 
said, " I do rejoice that we have so sweet a 
child for God. When she was first taken 
sick, I thought it probable that she might 
never recover, and I was willing that the 
Saviour, whom she had long loved, should 
take her home." 

Oh, my children, here was joy inexpressi- 
ble, wonderfully mingled with the deepest 
sorrow. Though that lovely face which won 
the sweetest smiles, must be laid low in the 
grave, and the opening beauty of this lovely 
plant be blighted, yet they could calmly look 
at the destroyer as he came on to lay it 
waste, and rejoice that he could do no more 
than transplant it into the garden of God. 
Death could take down her body, but he 
could not touch her soul ! The fine qualities 
of her mind would live forever, its sins and 
infirmities be washed away in the Redeemer's 
blood. 4*. 



_ 



42 MEMOIR OF 

The disease was inflammation of the brain ; 
but in her case it appeared in an unusual 
form, and therefore her physician could not 
decide what it was, until nearly the close of 
life. She was much inclined to sleep, and 
unwilling to be disturbed \ but whenever medi- 
cine was offered to her, with the same meek- 
ness with which she had subjected her own 
will to the wishes of others, she would freely 
take it, however disagreeable, to the very 
last. And here let me say, that Lucy was 
never hired to take medicine in her life. Her 
habit of self-denial made it perfectly easy. 

On Tuesday night before she died, she 
was very ill, in great pain, and for many 
hours it was necessary to hold her head 
every moment. The next day, her father 
being absent, her mother sat alone with her 
most of the day, and while she sat holding 
her head, Lucy began to converse, almost the 
first time since she had been sick. " Dear 
mother,"' she said, " I cannot go into my little 
chamber, and kneel down and pray, but I 
pray on my bed whenever I can ; and if I am 



LUCY MARIA BIGELOW. 43 

ever so sick, I let nothing hinder me. I let 
nothing hinder me." And what do you pray 
for, my dear child ? " I ask the blessed Sa- 
viour to love me and bless me and take me 
to heaven when I die." Mother. You are 
very sick, dear Lucy, perhaps you will never 
be well again. Are you willing to die ? " Yes, 
dear mother, if I thought I was quite pre- 
pared." Mother. What is it to be ' quite 
prepared,' but to love the Saviour, give him 
your whole heart, be sorry for all your sins, 
and seek his forgiveness ? Lucy. " I know 
that is all, that is all." " Dear mother, I can- 
not talk to little Henry now, but I have told 
him all I knew about Jesus and about heaven ; 
every day I have talked to him about being 
good." 

I forgot to tell you that Lucy instructed 
her little brother as carefully as she did Su- 
san, as soon as he could understand her, and 
never did I know her offer a prayer after this 
little brother was given to us, without praying 
" that he might be brought up in the nurture 
and admonition of the Lord." 



44 MEMOIR OF 

Her mother then said, Do you remember 
when you were taken sick? "Yes, I re- 
member the moment; just as Mrs. was 

talking to us about dying, my head began to 
ache. I should have enjoyed the meeting 
very much, but I felt so sick, I could hardly 

sit up." " Dear mother, I should love to 

sit up till you die, and then I should wish to 
die." She used the expression " sit up," I 
suppose, because she had so long been unable 
to rise from her bed. 

In the afternoon a dear friend brought her 
some flowers. She looked at them and said, 
Oh how beautiful ! and requested that they 
might be put where she could look at them. 
Her kind friends often sent to her tokens of 
love, but nothing was so pleasant to her as 
flowers. After this, she seldom spoke, unless 
to ask for something she wanted, and occa- 
sionally to inquire for some dear friend, or 
when the holy Sabbath would come, or to 
say to her mother or sister, " How kind you 
are." On Thursday evening she requested 
her mother to " sing that sweet song," 
" See Israel's gentle Shepherd stand," &c. 



LUCY MARIA BIGELOW. 45 

On Friday morning she said, " she had 
rather go to heaven and wear a crown of 
gold, than stay here." A friend came in and 
expressed much sympathy for the suffering 
child, and spoke of her uncommon patience. 
After she had gone, Lucy said " I did not 

love to hear aunt say so much about 

me." 

On Friday afternoon her reason began to 
fail. It was now that her physician and 
friends felt the utmost apprehension that- 
means were useless. The disease all had 
so much dreaded,, was fast taking down the 
" earthly house." 

On Saturday morning she appeared much 
better, told what day it was, asked for a dear 
friend, whom she wished to see. As her 
mother sat watching, her eyes often closed 
and her lips moved — but her thoughts were 
engaged with her Saviour. In the afternoon 
reason again left her, and on Sabbath morn- 
ing she was seized with convulsions. And 
now, as we looked upon her agitated frame, 
wasted by a sickness which the skill of the 






46 MEMOIR OF 

kindest physician had been unable to arrest, 
how did it comfort and sustain her distressed 
friends, to know, that in that hour of help- 
lessness, this little sufferer had not the great 
work of life to do. Oh no. She had not 
now to learn to pray, or to learn to love the 
name of Jesus. 

In her days of infancy she would say, 
" God, I love best of all, and then my father 
and mother ;" and every day of her life, that 
God — the prayer-hearing God, had heard 
this petition, " When I die, oh take me to 
heaven" Had she left it all for this hour of 
agony, how could she think of the merciful 
Friend on high ? How could she remember 
her sins? How could she " confess and for- 
sake them" now ? What a dangerous mistake 
for children to imagine they can do the work 
of life in a dying hour ! Such a thought 
comes from Satan, the father of lies. 

Some of you, dear children, who read this, 
will die when you are young. Your grave 
will be as short as Lucy's. Are you now 
doing the work of life ? It will take many 



LUCY MARIA BIGELOW. 47 

years to fit you to do business like your father. 
It takes many years to be educated. You 
could not learn to read in an hour, or to write 
or spell in an hour. Why should you be so 
unwise as to suppose you can get ready to 
die in an hour ? What can you do when your 
head aches hard — or even a tooth aches? 
How then in the " pains and groans and dying 
strife" will you calmly go with a penitent 
heart to the arms of Jesus ? 

All the Sabbath she lay in great distress. 
Many prayers were offered in the house of 
God for her, but the affectionate wishes of 
her friends, the tears of her afflicted parents 
could not now avail. It was God's time to 
call her home, and it was the best time. 

On Monday morning, she was relieved 
from distress — the spasms had subsided, and 
she lay calm, with a perfectly tranquil counte- 
nance. Her father standing near, she looked 
up with an earnest expression, as if longing 
to speak. He said, "My dear Lucy, you 
are going to leave us. Can you speak and 
tell us if you are happy ?" She replied " Yes, 



48 MEMOIR OF 

dear father." " Are you going home to the 
Saviour ?" " Yes," was all she had strength 
to say, but her look was that of perfect peace. 
Soon her mother asked, " Do you feel that 
your sins are all forgiven ?" "Yes, mother, 
yes, yes," was her earnest reply. Then fix- 
ing her eyes on her mother, with a voice of 
tenderness never to be forgotten, repeated 
three times, " Dear mother, dear mother, 
dear mother," and thus forever closed our 
intercourse on earth. 

On Tuesday morning, 23d of October, at 
half past 7 o'clock, it was said, " She is 
gone." 

" Happy soul, thy days are ended, 
All thy mourning here below. 
Go! by angel guards attended, 
To the arms of Jesus go." 

On Wednesday, many sympathizing friends 
and loved companions followed to the house 
of all the living, the mortal part of our dear 
child, and there we laid her in her lowly bed, 
committing her to him who is the " resurrec- 
tion and the life," assured that when he shall 



LUCY MARIA BIGELOW. 49 

" come in the clouds," that sleeping dust shall 
rise in new and unfading beauty. Then 
left her, with the hope that she had exi 
that decaying body ;>otless co 

igs, for the so- 
ciety of ai tect," 
in the presence of God and the Lamb* 93 

A neat whit »t where 

Lucy u And He 

took them up in bands 

upon them, and blessed th« 

And now, dear children, what I have told 
you about Lucy, IS only t her 

daily conduct and Do you 

that you could a be like h< ) mn be 

like her. 9 ber- 

I it soon \y Den; 

made her kind and crentle. Denying 
made her obedient — it made her prayerful, 
because she discovered how mil a ant- 

ed God's help in g against herself. 

If you do not yet understand all that is 
meant by self-denial, ask your father or 
mother to explain it. But remember that 
5 



50 MEMOIR OF LUGY MARIA BIGELOW. 

the same heavenly Father, who blessed her 
and answered her prayers, will hear your 
prayers, if you pray as she did — the same 
Holy Spirit will dwell in your heart — the 
same Saviour jvill cleanse you from every 
sin, and prepare you for that blessed world, 
where " there shall be no more death, neither 
sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any 
more pain." 



